Aviation Continuation Pay (ACP - The Bonus)

[Guest]

It's our own fault.  When they first started studying the whole retention problem, everyone in the trenches said "it's not about the money".  End result?  No real increases to the bonuses, because we've already told CSAF "it's not about the money".

Not entirely our fault. A bunch of the people they chose for that initial focus group were younger captains who still hadn’t pulled their heads from their asses. If they had actually asked people closer to ADSC expiration, I bet the answer would have been a lot different.

[daynightindicator]

Not entirely our fault. A bunch of the people they chose for that initial focus group were younger captains who still hadn’t pulled their heads from their asses. If they had actually asked people closer to ADSC expiration, I bet the answer would have been a lot different.

 

I assume you’re talking about the group of pilots that met with Senators Cotton and King last year. If you’re not, I apologize and take the rest for what it’s worth.

 

There’s a lot of misinformation going around about that group, what they did and didn’t say, and what they were told going into the meeting.

 

My buddy was in the group, and I was in DC that week so I went with him to a meet and greet where the SAF/LL dude met with them to go over expectations.

 

They were never told they had to say X or couldn’t say Y. They WERE told that going in with guns on the money issue would not play well, specifically with senator Cotton, who had made it clear he thought that the 20K bonus was plenty large enough, and that people should want to serve out of pure patriotism. Spending the meeting trying to convince him otherwise was not going to be a good use of time.

 

They were told about initiatives that HAF was working on to improve QOL in case they wanted to talk about those issues.

 

My understanding is that some of the folks went with a hybrid approach, talking about how low QOL + the airline pay/hiring frenzy, made it difficult to choose to stay.

 

They seemed like a good group of guys and I’m sure they said what they thought they should to improve things. I wouldn’t crap all over them because they didn’t go in demanding more money. It wasn’t going to be an effective message for that audience.

 

[SFG]

47 minutes ago, daynightindicator said:

They were never told they had to say X or couldn’t say Y. They WERE told that going in with guns on the money issue would not play well, specifically with senator Cotton, who had made it clear he thought that the 20K bonus was plenty large enough, and that people should want to serve out of pure patriotism. Spending the meeting trying to convince him otherwise was not going to be a good use of time.

. . .

They seemed like a good group of guys and I’m sure they said what they thought they should to improve things. I wouldn’t crap all over them because they didn’t go in demanding more money. It wasn’t going to be an effective message for that audience.

 

Friend of patient: "What is it doc?"

Doc: "It's cancer."

Friend of patient: "Oh crap. Well we can't tell him that."

Doc: "What? Why not?"

Friend of patient: "Well you can say whatever you want, but that won't play well. He has made it clear that he doesn't think it is cancer and trying to convince him otherwise is not going to be a good use of time. It won't be an effective message for this audience."

Doc: "Uhm. It's cancer."

[Fifty-six & Two]

Has anyone on active duty had luck waiving the bonus ADSC in order to retire? I know it was easier a couple years ago when the force management programs we're taking place, but am looking for more recent stories of either approval or disapproval.

[HeloDude]

1 hour ago, Fifty-six & Two said:

Has anyone on active duty had luck waiving the bonus ADSC in order to retire? I know it was easier a couple years ago when the force management programs we're taking place, but am looking for more recent stories of either approval or disapproval.

Kind of defeats the purpose of the ACP ADSC, so (assuming no other larger circumstances), I don't see why the AF would allow it.

As to your specific question, I know someone who tried doing this in 2012, and instead of being allowed to retire, he was given a 365.

[ViperMan]

3 hours ago, daynightindicator said:

I assume you’re talking about the group of pilots that met with Senators Cotton and King last year. If you’re not, I apologize and take the rest for what it’s worth.

They were never told they had to say X or couldn’t say Y. They WERE told that going in with guns on the money issue would not play well, specifically with senator Cotton, who had made it clear he thought that the 20K bonus was plenty large enough, and that people should want to serve out of pure patriotism. Spending the meeting trying to convince him otherwise was not going to be a good use of time.

Because it's never a good use of time to express the truth. /sarc

[Hunter Rose]

Patriotism is what gets you to serve a 10-year ADSC when you are young and single.  Money is what helps keep you in past your commitment once you have a family.

All the General’s I’ve been exposed to seemed to think that no amount of money would affect people’s decision to stay.  I think they have it backwards. The people who are going to stay regardless don’t care about the money. For plenty of folks on the fence money is a huge factor in their decision  

I’ve talked to plenty of guys on a bro level who will readily admit that a $50-60K annual bump in pay (without stupid long ADSCs attached to it) post ADSC would likely have gotten them to stay in.  It’s not that the AF ever had to match airline pay, they just needed to provide a decent increase to make pilots continue to put of with the BS and lower QoL inherent in military service.  Hell, even just making the $35K annual professional pay would likely get a few guys to serve an extra year or two. 

[Tommy]

Here’s my 2 cents... during exit surveys and during talks with the CSAF (saw this with my very own eyes), pilots who get out/want to get out state that extra pay wouldn’t have changed their mind and that it’s about QoL. 

With that said I’m not sure if money not being a factor really is completely true. First the exit interview I saw back in 2016 asked if an extra $10k/yr would have changed your mind on a scale of 1-10 ie 35k/yr. They never asked if a $50k/yr or 100k/yr bonus would have changed their mind. But even if they asked the question I believe the data would be skewed as i believe it’s human nature especially for most pilots to say this is the decision I made and I’m not gonna change my mind based on a survey question. They say to themselves I invested time, money, and energy prepping for interviews, getting my ATP, etc and I wouldn’t have changed my mind for anything in the world. This is their new goal and path and nothing’s gonna change my mind. Just human nature.  

IMO people see the bonuses offered a year or two a head of time and start making a decision to pursue the airline option and by the time the bonus comes out they are pretty well invested in their new path. So to break the cycle they need to put out a substantial bonus to increase retention and WAIT 3 years. But senators and USAF leadership also have made up their mind based on poorly made surveys that money won’t help and just like the pilots who get out and say it’s not about the money they are firm in their convictions.

The other issue I see is that in the heavy community QoL equals a slower ops tempo. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t see the CSAF specifically mentioned to Congress/Senate that we must reduce ops tempo. 

So if extra money and lower ops tempo are off the table. What’s left qeep? I can’t see retention increasing until airlines slow down hiring. But even if we have a recession, mandatory retirements will be happening.

So all the USAF has left is increasing pilot production, try to recall to AD, stop loss (hopefully off the table), pray for a massive recession and reduce qeep. 

As more and more people get out, if I were them I’d try a $70/yr bonus and see what happens before it’s too late... if it’s not too late already. 

Edited June 26, 2018 by Lifer

[General Chang]

18 minutes ago, Lifer said:

Here’s my 2 cents... during exit surveys and during talks with the CSAF (saw this with my very own eyes), pilots who get out/want to get out state that extra pay wouldn’t have changed their mind and that it’s about QoL. 

With that said I’m not sure if money not being a factor really is completely true. First the exit interview I saw back in 2016 asked if an extra $10k/yr would have changed your mind on a scale of 1-10 ie 35k/yr. They never asked if a $50k/yr or 100k/yr bonus would have changed their mind. But even if they asked the question I believe the data would be skewed as i believe it’s human nature especially for most pilots to say this is the decision I made and I’m not gonna change my mind based on a survey question. They say to themselves I invested time, money, and energy prepping for interviews, getting my ATP, etc and I wouldn’t have changed my mind for anything in the world. This is their new goal and path and nothing’s gonna change my mind. Just human nature.  

IMO people see the bonuses offered a year or two a head of time and start making a decision to pursue the airline option and by the time the bonus comes out they are pretty well invested in their new path. So to break the cycle they need to put out a substantial bonus to increase retention. But senators and USAF leadership also have made up their mind based on poorly made surveys that money won’t help and just like the pilots who get out and say it’s not about the money they are firm in their convictions.

The other issue I see is that in the heavy community QoL equals a slower ops tempo. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t see the CSAF specifically mentioned to Congress/Senate that we must reduce ops tempo. 

So if extra money and lower ops tempo are off the table. What’s left qeep? I can’t see retention increasing until airlines slow down hiring. But even if we have a recession, mandatory retirements will be happening.

So all the USAF has left is increasing pilot production, try to recall to AD, stop loss (hopefully off the table), pray for a massive recession and reduce qeep. 

As more and more people get out, if I were them I’d try a $70/yr bonus and see what happens before it’s too late... if it’s not too late already. 

Most comprehensive, thoughtful, and truly insightful post I have seen here in a long time.  If the leaders behind the glass doors truly internalize these few paragraphs...

Edited June 26, 2018 by General Chang

[Day Man]

17 minutes ago, General Chang said:

Most comprehensive, thoughtful, and truly insightful post I have seen here in a long time.  If the leaders behind the glass doors truly internalize these few paragraphs...

you serious? all those things have been discussed ad nauseam here for years...

[herkbum]

Lifer=General Chang burner account?

Edited June 26, 2018 by herkbum

[Tommy]

Haha. I argue Day Man and herkbum work for congress and are trying to keep aviation continuation pay low.  

Edited June 26, 2018 by Lifer

[Day Man]

 

don't be mad I found a loophole to getting out of your ADSC 5 years early  

[Tommy]

Or worse guard folks who want to keep the AD folks down. 

 

Edited June 26, 2018 by Lifer

[herkbum]

No dog in fight, I’m an AGR

[Fifty-six & Two]

 
don't be mad I found a loophole to getting out of your ADSC 5 years early  

Do tell

[ThreeHoler]

Fly through a thunderstorm in Pakistan and nearly kill everyone on board...then get booted by the AMC/CC. Sound about right?

[Guest]

Anyone know where the PSDM is? It’s not available on mypers anymore.

[Hunter Rose]

2 hours ago, ihtfp06 said:

Anyone know where the PSDM is? It’s not available on mypers anymore.

 

If I remember correctly they did that last year when they tweaked the FY17 AvB program (to include categories for contract expired folks) and then re-released it with an extended sign-up date.

I wonder if the first month take rate was so abysmally low that they are trying to make it more appealing.  There's some really stupid stuff in the AvB program, like limiting contract expired folks eligibility for a 2nd bonus to only those folks whose contract expires in FY18.

It's a pilot retention crisis!  If someone had a contract expire last year, didn't take the 2nd bonus, but changed their mind this year and was willing to extend to 22-24 YAS, why the hell would you not take them?!?!?

Edited June 27, 2018 by Hunter Rose

[SFG]

2 hours ago, ihtfp06 said:

Anyone know where the PSDM is? It’s not available on mypers anymore.

I heard they’re not offering it anymore, because it’s not about the money.

Flight pay is also being canceled, along with BAH in all locations where base housing is an option. There is also talk about capping pay at the Captain level. Since money is not important and you should only stay in to serve. (Forget about age 43 to 100... you won’t need money for that)

[Fifty-six & Two]

The PSDM is back up

[cragspider]

38 minutes ago, Fifty-six & Two said:

The PSDM is back up

Any changes to it? 

[olevelo]

For those that haven’t seen the chatter on the CSO FB page, a new version of the PSDM is coming out tomorrow, expanding eligibility to all uncommitted CSO’s with pre-FY18 commitments; ie all of us old guys, finally! 12M’s included. 20k or 25k per year, up to 9 years, 50% up front. There’s some expanded pilot stuff too, but who cares about that.

Scenario question: say a late rated guy has the option of 9 years, which would take him to 25 years TFCSD (or whatever it’s called), which is under the 24 YAS limit for the bonus, but then gets twice passed over, limiting him to 24 years due to HYT...do they have to pay back the year of bonus, or do they get it anyway because they committed to it but the AF said nah, never mind? Also assume in the mid scenario that this guy already had something else that was gong to commit him to 24 years anyway, so the 8 year option is a no-brainer.

[ThreeHoler]

You have to pay back the unearned portion.

[olevelo]

You have to pay back the unearned portion.

That’s what I thought. I seem to remember some scenario where you can keep part of a bonus or other special pay, but I think it was some very special circumstance.